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[prairiedaun]

14valentines Day 7: Domestic Violence

Jefferson Mittens

Yarn: Alafoss Lopi
Needles: Size 8 double point needles
Date: November 30th
Pattern: improvised from the first mitten pattern coleman_genie sketched out for me when I first learned to knit.

Using a cabled cast on, co 36 stitches. K2, p2 ribbing for 5 rounds, then *put 1 stitch on a cable needle and hold to the back, knit 1 from left needle, knit 1 from cable needle, purl 2* around, then continue on in k2, p2 ribbing for another 5 rounds.

K 8 rounds.

Increase for the gusset by increasing 2 stitches every two rounds. I k 2, knit into the front and the back of a stitch, knit into the front and the back again, then k all. k the next round, then k2, kfb, k2, kfb, then k all again. You may want to mark this with a stitch marker. continue until you have increased for 14 stitches.

Place those 14 stitches on a holder and continue knitting around for 12 more rounds (I have smallish hands, so this may differ for others. Go to about the middle knuckle.)

*k4, k2tog* around, then k all next round.
*k3 k2tog* around, then k all next round
*k2 k2tog* around, then k all next round
*k k2tog* around, then k all next round
*k2tog* around, then cut yarn and draw through the stitches to close.

Transfer the stitches on the holder to needles and knit them, and pick up 4 stitches in the gap. K around for 6 rounds, then *k2tog* around, k all, then k2tog around and cut the yarn and draw through.

Tighten up the yarn where it's been drawn through (not to tightly, because the yarn could break) then weave in the ends.

If there are gaps around the base of the thumb, use an extra bit of the yarn (either from when you reattached for the thumb or cut a new piece) and weave it in and through to close up any gaps.

You can either repeat for the second mitten, or to make a mirror image, hold thestitch on the cable need in front before knittig from the left needle, and use ssk's instead of k2tog's for the decreases.

The Lopi feels scratchy at first, especially in the ball, but it softens up nicely with wear and they are great hard-wearing winter mitts.

I made these on my way to Madison- I cast on a bit before Morris, MB, took a few breaks and finished some time before Minneapolis (before it got dark, at least). Named the Jefferson Mittens because I was on Jefferson Lines. They really helped relieve some of the anxiety I felt about getting on a bus for 24 hours to go to another country and meet up with friends (only one of whom I'd ever met before).